Forth Valley College’s Student of the Year award for 2021 has gone to Jade Harley from Falkirk.
FVC hosted two successful graduation events at Stirling Castle (Tuesday 8 February) and Falkirk Town Hall (Wednesday 9 February) and at the Falkirk ceremony, Jade Harley (28), picked up the top award for her outstanding efforts over the past year.
Jade, who graduated with a HNC Working with Communities, also won the Most Inspirational Student in the Department of Business and Communities at the Falkirk Town Hall ceremony. She has now progressed onto a Masters in Learning and Communities at Edinburgh University.
After the ceremony Jade, pictured here with her daughter Addison (4) and mum Yvonne, herself a former Student Union President at the old Falkirk College of Further and Higher Education, said: “I am completely and utterly surprised to win Student of the Year. I can’t believe I started crying and when the description of the recipient was being read out it only really clicked when my daughter Addison – who was at the ceremony with my mum Yvonne - was referred to.
“I am still a little shocked as I didn’t even know there was a Student of the Year Award – though I do feel very proud to have won.
“I could not be more grateful for the friendships and connections I have made at Forth Valley College and I am also very grateful to the lecturers on my course who could not have been more helpful.
“It was also very unexpected to hear that I had won the Most Inspirational Student in my department award, given that I was very fortunate to be in such a great class with so many peers who had way more experience of working with communities than me. They are a very supportive group and everyone helped each other along during unprecedented period through lockdown. I am very proud of myself. Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about the lecturers I had, who did everything in their power to make things feel as good and normal as they possibly could through the challenging times. I would recommend the course 100 per cent.”
Forth Valley College Principal Dr Ken Thomson said: “Jade has demonstrated tremendous qualities throughout her time at Forth Valley College and over the past year has gone above and beyond what has been expected of her. Not only has she reached the heights academically at the college, but she has now progressed to study for a Masters in Learning and Communities at Edinburgh University and we are sure she continue to be a success in whatever she chooses to do.
“Jade is an outstanding student, who thoroughly deserves her Student of the Year award, and she also showed what an outstanding citizen she is with all her sterling work across her community during the pandemic lockdown helping less fortunate and vulnerable people. She is a credit to herself, her family and to the College and we know she will continue to excel in her career.”